Police in Columbus, Ohio, confirmed on Sunday that the missing Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge has died.

The 22-year-old reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Clay Hall of ABC 6/Fox 28 in Columbus.

After the sports star was reported missing on Wednesday, his body was found in a dumpster near his apartment in Columbus.

Karageorge's family believed that his disappearance might have been linked to his history of concussion.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on Friday that the family had filed a missing person's report. In it Karageorge's mother said her son texted her at 1:30am on Wednesday, saying: "I am sorry if I am an embarrassment but these concussions have my head all [expletive] up."

In a phone interview on Friday, Karageorge's older sister, Sophia, said that he had sustained a concussion as recently as September and had suffered "at least four or five" concussions in his life.

The concussions had reportedly left him with symptoms of "confusion, disorientation, being unable to focus and mood swings".

Karageorge was previously a wrestler at Ohio State, who released a statement confirming the death.

"The Ohio State University Department of Athletics was shocked and saddened to learn today of the death of student-athlete Kosta Karageorge, a senior from Columbus," the school said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Karageorge family, and those who knew him, during this most difficult time."

Less than three hours after police announced his death, over 400 students arrived at the Ohio State grounds to hold a vigil for the sports star.

Many fans immediately took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness after hearing the news.

Fans also called for the links between concussions and suicide to be taken more seriously.

NFL star Junior Seau committed suicide in 2013, while Jovan Belcher, of the Kansas City Chiefs, killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself in 2012.

Doctors linked their deaths to CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a neurological disease which has been a factor in the deaths of many American football players and Wrestlers.